Touching Lives at Sentinel
The program, a group padding program in 4-man outrigger canoes, has been running in the Western Cape for the past 4 years, already reaching more than 20,000 youth at risk. The program has seen remarkable results taking youth from an abusive social environment to the non-competitive, tranquil and rhythmic nature of the outrigger activity – this way calming very troubled young minds.
Program manager, Nigel Reynolds, head of Chrysalis Academy Sustainable Livelihood projects (CLSP) and CSI initiatives, says that this kind of intervention, using outdoor educational programs, is key in preventing many of the anti-social problems found in youth today. The program aims to foster leadership, teamwork, discipline, communication, self-esteem, and provides workshops in areas such as healthy eating, the dangers of HIV, drugs & alcohol abuse and basic CPR skills. The program has been voted the best of it’s kind worldwide.
The instructors who operate the program, are themselves from disadvantaged backgrounds, having been trained at Chrysalis Academy, and now acting as mentors for the many disillusioned youth coming across their paths.
Thanks to the generosity of Exceed Pty Ltd (UK), the program is now able to run at Sentinel School twice a month in winter, increasing to four times a month in summer. Currently, the program focus is on the grade 7’s, both girls and boys, and has been included in their curriculum. Teaching staff have been amazed at how the activity has opened up children who before remained very much to themselves.
Exceed has set the benchmark in funding this wonderful youth activity program, and it is the Outrigger Foundation's hope that other local organisations will follow this example and combine their pennies to sponsor a class to participate in this life changing opportunity, be it for a day, a term or the year.
Why not sew your good fortune into these troubled lives and reap a harvest of knowing that you have made a difference in the life of a child, less fortunate than yourself.